Congratulations, You’ve Deposited, Now What?

This can be such an exciting time for many students and families. All the hard work has paid off, and there are only a few more weeks of high school left. You know which college you will be attending and the future seems bright. While celebrating is certainly in the cards, here are some other important things to consider.

1. Check your mail and email- This is the time when your college of choice will send a lot of information. It can be easy to overlook something important. Check your online portal daily and make sure you’re reviewing your emails on a regular basis. Housing, scholarship, orientation and other information can be coming in. You don’t want to miss out.
2. Attend orientation for students AND parents- Meeting fellow students, familiarizing yourself with the campus, and sometimes even picking courses can be done during orientation days or weekends. It can also minimize the stress a student may feel about the big changes to come. Parents may want to attend information sessions too. Health services, course advising, housing, safety, meal plans, financial aid, parking- there is a lot of important information for parents too!
3. Get important documents in place- As your child transitions from a high school student to a college student, there are a couple important legal items to keep in mind: FERPA: When students turn 18, rights to their academic records become theirs and a college, by law, isn’t allowed to disclose information to anyone, including parents. However, if you, as a parent, wish to have access to your student’s records, you’ll need to discuss this with your student and have him or her sign a waiver. Power of Attorney: When a student turns 18, it becomes much harder for parents to get medical information or even access to their student’s college bill. Having a health care proxy in place will make a huge difference in case of a medical emergency.
4. Celebrate- Though the time to say goodbye will come, take some important time now to slow down and enjoy time together. Be proud, buy a decal for your car, share the exciting news with family and friends. You won’t regret it.

Best of luck to the graduating class of 2023. We’ve enjoyed helping you through this important process and transition. We wish you all the best for the future.